Spare brake beam

ABSTRACT

A spare brake beam for railway cars which can be quickly and easily installed in a train car without the necessity of cutting the car from the train nor dismantling the car nor the truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to brake beams for railway cars, andmore particularly to a spare brake beam which allows a quickinstallation thereof.

B. Description of the Related Art

There are well known brake heads assemblies for railway cars by which abrake shoe is pressed against a wheel in order to decrease or stop therotational speed of the wheel and railway car.

Generally, the brake head assembly is held by a structure called “brakebeam” mounted transversely in the bogie of a railway car and is linkedto a lever, which applies a force in order to press the brake shoeagainst a wheel.

The brake beam generally comprises, a generally “V” shaped tensionmember a compression member having its ends coupled to the ends of thetension member, a brake head subassembly linked to the each end of thecompression member, two end extensions each coupled to an end of thecompression member by which the brake beam is coupled to the bogie of arailway car and a fulcrum coupled to the compression member and tensionmember, so that the fulcrum remains between the tension and compressionmembers. The end extensions of the brake beam are coupled to both pocketguides of the trucks

The main reasons for replacing a Brake Beam out of a freight car are thefollowing:

A worn out condition.

A broken brake beam

A bent brake beam

A missing brake beam

When it is necessary to install a new brake beam, the damaged car mustbe decupled from the train, and taken to a repairing facility whichcould be many miles away.

Once in the facility, the car must be jacked up, then the truck must bedisconnected and retired from under the car, proceeding to thedismantling of side frames and corresponding wheel set, in order todecuple the brake beam end extensions from the pocket guides and thenremove the damaged brake beam, for reapplication of the new brake beam,proceeding then to reinsert wheel set and side frames, push truck underthe car, reconnect and lower the car body on top.

The above referred operation is a main cause for car repair personnelinjuries, it's very complex, it's costly and time consuming since it maytake from 3 to 7 days to replace a brake beam. And worst, the owner ofthe car and_the transport company, looses money for each minute the caris inactive, besides angry customers since usually the car that is cutfrom the train is completely loaded, facing penalties or damagedperishable goods.

In order to reduce the time and effort necessary to replace a brakebeam, applicant developed a spare brake beam which can be quickly andeasily installed in a train car without the necessity of cutting the carfrom the train nor dismantling the car nor the truck.

Applicant's spare brake beam includes: an interlocking member eachcoupled at an end of the brake beam compression and tension membersinside its hollow cross section and having a brake beam coupling sectiondirectly coupled to the brake beam main body and an end extensioncoupling section; a removable end extension having a pocket guidecoupling section and a brake beam coupling section linked to the endextension coupling section of a linking member, linked to the brake beammain body.

Thanks to applicant's spare brake beam it is not necessary to dismantlethe car for replacing the brake beam and therefore the operation can becarried out without cutting the car from the train thus saving money onlabor and materials.

Furthermore, the brake beam replacement operation can be completed inmatter of minutes, saving time on all type of freight cars using astandard Brake beam, being particularly beneficial on intermodal orpremium service trains and avoiding penalties and costs related withprevious mounting systems.

Thanks to the spare brake beam of the present invention, it is possibleto replace any kind of brake beam which is found at a damagedcondemnable condition under a car in service, by a simple torch cut offprocess of the damaged beam under the car, pulling then the damagedcomponent from the car bottom, which activity is simple and familiar tomust skilled in the car repair art, and be then able to install thespare brake beam of the present invention, as an spare brake beam, rightthere and then, without the dismantling of the train, car nor truck,with simple common tools and skills.

Finally, since it is no longer necessary to dismantle the car forchanging a brake beam, there are avoided the related and commonaccidents and personal injuries to the maintenance staff.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide aspare brake beam which can be quickly and easily installed in the boogieof a train car.

It is another main object of the present invention to provide a sparebrake beam by which can be installed without dismantling the car andtherefore the operation can be carried out without cutting the car fromthe train thus saving money on labor and materials

It is still a main object of the present invention to provide a sparebrake beam which can be installed in matter of minutes saving time onall type of freight cars using a standard brake beam, being particularlybeneficial on intermodal or premium service trains, and avoidingpenalties and costs related with previous mounting systems.

It is still another main object of the present invention to provide aspare brake beam thanks to which there are avoided the accidents andpersonal injuries to the maintenance staff related to car dismantlingoperations.

These and other objects and advantages of the spare brake beam of thepresent invention will become apparent to those persons having anordinary skill in the art, from the following detailed description ofthe embodiments of the invention which will be made with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper view of a boogie of a railway car having the sparebrake beam of the present invention having the removable end extensiondetached from the interlocking member.

FIG. 2 is an upper view of a boogie of a railway car having the sparebrake beam of the present invention having the removable end extensionin place.

FIG. 3 is an upper view of a section of a boogie of a railway car havingthe spare brake beam of the present invention having the removable endextension detached from the interlocking member.

FIG. 4 is an upper view of the interlocking member and removable endextension of the spare brake beam of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the removable end extension of the sparebrake beam of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The spare brake beam of the present invention will now be describedmaking reference to a common brake beam, in accordance with its mostgeneral embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein the same signs and numbers, refer to the same parts of the shownfigures, comprising:

a “V” shaped tension member 1 having a first end “F” and a second “S”end, said “V” shaped tension member having a channel shaped crosssection (not shown) including a lower wall and two upwardly projectingside walls, each depending from an edge of the lower wall, and includinga first pair of opposite holes 2 each located in a side wall near theends of the tension member and a second pair of opposite holes 3 eachlocated in a side wall at the ends of the tension member;

a compression member 4, having a first end and a second end (not shown)coinciding with the first “F” and second “S” of the tension member 1, achannel shaped cross section (not shown) including an upper wall and twodepending side walls, each depending from an edge of the upper wall, achannel shaped housing (not shown), and including a first pair ofopposite holes (not shown) each located in a side wall near the ends ofthe tension member and a second pair of opposite holes (not shown) eachlocated in a side wall at the ends of the tension member each paircoinciding with both pair of holes 2, 3 of the tension member, whereinthe channel shaped cross section of the each end of the compressionmember 4 is located and joined inside the channel shaped cross sectionof the tension member 1;

two brake head subassemblies 5, 5′, each having a brake shoe (not shown)and respectively linked to each end of the tension and compressionmembers 1, 4, each having a coupling section 6, having a bore 7 in acentral portion thereof coinciding with the second pair of holes of thetension 2, 3 and compression member; and

and a fulcrum 8 joined to the tension member 1 and compression member 4,so that the fulcrum 8 remains between the tension 1 and compression 4members.

wherein the tension member 1, compression member 4 and brake headsubassemblies 5, 5′, are linked together by means of four bolt nutassemblies 9 each passing respectively trough the first and second pairof holes located at each end of the tension member 1 and compressionmember 4 and trough the bore 7, 7′ of each brake head subassembly 5, 5′,thus linking the tension member 1, compression member 4 and brake headsubassemblies 5, 5′ together by a first 10, 10′ and a second 11, 11′pair of linking points;

Now, the spare brake beam of the present invention will be describedmaking reference to the above described common brake beam, wherein thespare brake beam of the present invention comprising:

an interlocking member 12 located at the first end of the compressionmember 4 inside its channel shaped cross section which in turn islocated inside the channel shaped cross section of the tension member 1,comprising a solid planar metal piece 13 having a brake beam couplingsection 14 having a bore 15 at a central portion thereof coinciding withthe first coinciding pair of bores (of the first two pairs of linkingpoints 10, 10′) of the tension 1 and compression 4 member and an endextension coupling section 16, opposite to the brake beam couplingsection 14 including a coupling edge 17 having an irregular shape andhaving a bore 18 in a central portion thereof coinciding with the secondcoinciding pair of bores (of the second pair of linking points 11, 11′)of the tension 1 and compression 4 member and with the bore 7, 7′ of thecoupling section 6, 6′ of a brake head subassembly 5, 5′ and having alesser width than the brake beam coupling section 14;

a fixed end extension 18 coupled to the second end of the tension member1;

a removable end extension 19 comprising a solid metal piece having aninterlocking member coupling member 20 comprising a clasp formed by twoquadrangular planar metallic pieces 21, 21′, each including a bore 22,22′ in a central portion thereof, an interlocking member coupling edgereceiving section 23 located between both quadrangular planar metallicpieces 21, 21′ having the same but opposed shape as the interlockingmember 12 coupling edge 17 and a pocket guide coupling member 24 opposedto the interlocking member coupling member 20;

wherein the brake beam coupling section 14 of the interlocking member 12is coupled to the first end of the tension 1 and compression 4 membersby means of the bolt passing trough the first pair of coinciding bores(of the first pair of linking points 10, 10′) of the tension 1 andcompression 4 member which also passes trough the bore located at acentral portion of the interlocking member 12 brake beam couplingsection 14 section thus joining the brake beam coupling section 14; and

wherein the removable end extension coupling section 16 of theinterlocking member 12 is coupled to the tension 1 and compression 4members and brake head subassembly 5, 5′ and is received between bothquadrangular planar metallic pieces 21, 21′ of the removable endextension 19, in such way that its coupling edge 17 engages with theinterlocking member coupling edge receiving section 23 and is retainedtherein by means of the bolt passing trough the second pair ofcoinciding bores (of the second pair of linking points 11, 11′) of thetension member 1, compression member 4 and brake head subassembly 5, 5′which also passes trough the bore 15 located at a central portion of theend extension coupling section 16 of the interlocking member 12 andtrough the bores 22, 22′ located at a central portion of bothquadrangular planar metallic pieces 21, 21′ forming the clasp whichcomprise the interlocking member coupling member 20 of the removable endextension 19 thus joining the tension member 1, compression member 4,brake head subassembly 5, 5′, interlocking member 12 and removable endextension 19 together.

Since the coupling edge 17 of the interlocking member 12 engages withthe interlocking member coupling edge receiving section 23 of theremovable end extension 19, it is avoided any lateral movement of theremovable end extension 19 with respect to the brake beam when thebrakes are applied.

When it's necessary to replace a common brake beam from a train car, thecondemnable beam must be torched off from the car, decoupled from itslinking levers & removed from the boogie (truck). Then, the removableend extension of the spare beam is decoupled from the interlockingmember 12, and the pocket guide coupling member 24 is inserted in theboogie pocket guide 25. The corresponding side brake head subassembly 5,5′ is then loose, and may be slided off the beam, to reduce its weight.Next, the spare beam is slided under the boogie sitting on the rail andthe end that has the fixed end extension 18, must be lifted, and it'send extension inserted on the opposite side pocket guide 25 of thetruck. The first end with the decoupled end extension 19 is then liftedto embrace with it's hollow portion the mating link of the decoupled endextension 19, thus embracing it. This will hold the weight of the beamin place. Next, the spare brake beam is push toward the wheel while atthe same time the uncoupled end extension 19 must be slid along itscorrespondent pocket guide 25, and at the same time the end extensionmust be slightly rotated over a vertical axis until its interlockingmember coupling member 20 is completely inside the brake beam's channelshaped cross section as shown in FIG. 2. Then the corresponding loosebrake head is slided back on the spare beam, and all holes aligned, inorder for the same provided bolt to be inserted from the top, thusputting together the brake head subassembly, the spare brake beamstructure and the decoupled end extension, thorough one singleoperation.

Thanks to the bolt nut assembly passing trough the first pairs oflinking points 10, 10′ of the first end of the tension and compressionmember, it is avoided that the spare brake beam become disassembled whenthe bolt passing trough the second pair of linking points 11, 11′ isretired for decoupling the removable end extension 19.

Although it was described that the spare brake beam of the presentinvention has one removable end extension 19 and one fixed end extension18, both end extensions may be removable.

In other embodiments of the invention, the interlocking member 12 may beomitted and instead it could be provided any means for avoiding thelateral movement of the end extensions—interlocking means—formed insidethe cross section of the tension member or compression member such as apair of bump elements formed inside the cross section of the compressionor tension members in such way that it prevents the edges of each planarmetallic piece to laterally move.

Although in the above described preferred embodiment, the spare brakebeam has a common design (tension member, compression member, etc.), itmay have other design, for example a one piece brake beam in which thetension and compression member are welded together, as well as the brakehead subassemblies, or brake beams lacking the tension member.

Finally it must be understood that the spare brake beam, of the presentinvention, is not limited exclusively to the embodiments above describedand illustrated and that the persons having ordinary skill in the artcan, with the teaching provided by the invention, to make modificationsto the design and component distribution of the spare brake beam of thepresent invention, which will clearly be within of the true inventiveconcept and of the scope of the invention which is claimed in thefollowing claims:

1. A spare brake beam having an elongated main body having a first and asecond end, linking a pair of brake head subassemblies and installed ina boogie of a railway car having pocket guides for slidable receivingthe end extensions of a brake beam and opposed end extensions, saidspare brake beam comprising: at least one interlocking member coupled atan end of the brake beam main body and having an end extension couplingsection; and at least one end extension having a pocket guide couplingsection and an interlocking member coupling section; wherein theinterlocking member coupling section of each end extension is linked toan interlocking member end extension coupling section.
 2. The sparebrake beam as claimed in claim 1, wherein each interlocking membercomprising: a solid planar metal piece having a brake beam couplingsection and an end extension coupling section, opposite to the brakebeam coupling section including a coupling edge having an irregularshape and having a bore in a central portion thereof, and having alesser width than the brake beam coupling section.
 3. The spare brakebeam as claimed in claim 1, wherein each interlocking member couplingsection comprising a clasp formed by two quadrangular planar metallicpieces, each including a bore in a central portion thereof, aninterlocking member coupling edge receiving section located between bothquadrangular planar metallic pieces.
 4. The spare brake beam as claimedin claim 1, wherein: each interlocking member comprising: a solid planarmetal piece having a brake beam coupling section and an end extensioncoupling section, opposite to the brake beam coupling section includinga coupling edge having an irregular shape and having a bore in a centralportion thereof, and having a lesser width than the brake beam couplingsection; each interlocking member coupling section comprising a claspformed by two quadrangular planar metallic pieces, each including a borein a central portion thereof, an interlocking member coupling edgereceiving section located between both quadrangular planar metallicpieces having the same but opposed shape as the coupling edge receivingsection and a pocket guide coupling member opposed to the interlockingmember coupling member; and wherein each interlocking member is receivedand retained between the two quadrangular planar metallic pieces andwherein its coupling edge engages with the interlocking member couplingsection interlocking member coupling edge receiving section
 5. The sparebrake beam as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body comprising a “V”shaped tension member, a compression member having its ends coupled tothe ends of the tension member and each having a first and a second end,a brake head subassembly linked to each end of the compression member, afulcrum attached to the compression member and tension member, whereinthe compression and tension member have a channel shaped cross section,and wherein the tension member, compression member and brake headsubassemblies, are linked together by means of four pairs of bolt nutassemblies each passing respectively trough the first and second pair ofholes located at each end of the tension member and compression memberand trough the bore of each brake head subassembly, thus linking thetension member, compression member and brake head subassemblies togetherby a first and a second pair of linking points, and further comprising:an interlocking member located at the first end of the compressionmember inside its channel shaped cross section which in turn is locatedinside the channel shaped cross section of the tension member,comprising a solid planar metal piece having a brake beam couplingsection having a bore in a central portion thereof coinciding with thefirst coinciding pair of bores of the first two pairs of linking pointsof the tension and compression member and an end extension couplingsection, opposite to the brake beam coupling section including acoupling edge having an irregular shape and having a bore in a centralportion thereof coinciding with the second coinciding pair of bores ofthe second two pairs of linking points of the tension and compressionmember and with the bore of the coupling section of a brake headsubassembly and having a lesser width than the brake beam couplingsection.
 6. The spare brake beam as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mainbody comprising a “V” shaped tension member, a compression member havingits ends coupled to the ends of the tension member and each having afirst and a second end, a brake head subassembly linked to each end ofthe compression member, a fulcrum attached to the compression member andtension member, wherein the compression and tension member have achannel shaped cross section, and wherein the tension member,compression member and brake head subassemblies, are linked together bymeans of four pairs of bolt nut assemblies each passing respectivelytrough the first and second pair of holes located at each end of thetension member and compression member and trough the bore of each brakehead subassembly, thus linking the tension member, compression memberand brake head subassemblies together by a first and a second pair oflinking points, and further comprising: a removable end extensioncomprising a solid metal piece one of which having an interlockingmember coupling member comprising a clasp formed by two quadrangularplanar metallic pieces, each including a bore in a central portionthereof, an interlocking member coupling edge receiving section locatedbetween both quadrangular planar metallic pieces having the same butopposed shape as the coupling edge receiving section and a pocket guidecoupling member opposed to the interlocking member coupling member. 7.The spare brake beam as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main bodycomprising a “V” shaped tension member, a compression member having itsends coupled to the ends of the tension member and each having a firstand a second end, a brake head subassembly linked to each end of thecompression member, a fulcrum attached to the compression member andtension member, wherein the compression and tension member have achannel shaped cross section, and wherein the tension member,compression member and brake head subassemblies, are linked together bymeans of four pairs of bolt nut assemblies each passing respectivelytrough the first and second pair of holes located at each end of thetension member and compression member and trough the bore of each brakehead subassembly, thus linking the tension member, compression memberand brake head subassemblies together by a first and a second pair oflinking points, and further comprising: an interlocking member locatedat the first end of the compression member inside its channel shapedcross section which in turn is located inside the channel shaped crosssection of the tension member, comprising a solid planar metal piecehaving a brake beam coupling section having a bore in a central portionthereof coinciding with the first coinciding pair of bores of the firsttwo pairs of linking points of the tension and compression member and anend extension coupling section, opposite to the brake beam couplingsection including a coupling edge having an irregular shape and having abore in a central portion thereof coinciding with the second coincidingpair of bores of the second two pairs of linking points of the tensionand compression member and with the bore of the coupling section of abrake head subassembly and having a lesser width than the brake beamcoupling section; a removable end extension comprising a solid metalpiece one of which having an interlocking member coupling membercomprising a clasp formed by two quadrangular planar metallic pieces,each including a bore in a central portion thereof, an interlockingmember coupling edge receiving section located between both quadrangularplanar metallic pieces having the same but opposed shape as the couplingedge receiving section and a pocket guide coupling member opposed to theinterlocking member coupling member; wherein the brake beam couplingsection of the interlocking member is coupled to the first end of thetension and compression members by means of the bolt passing trough thefirst pair of coinciding bores (of the first two pairs of linkingpoints) of the compression and tension member which also passes troughthe bore located at a central portion of the brake beam coupling sectionthus joining the coupling section; and wherein the end extensioncoupling section of the interlocking member is coupled to the tensionand compression members and brake head subassembly and is receivedbetween both planar metallic pieces of the end extension having theclasp, in such way that its coupling edge engages with the interlockingmember coupling edge receiving section and is retained therein by meansof the bolt passing trough the second pair of coinciding bores of thesecond two pairs of linking points of the compression member, tensionmember and brake head subassembly which also passes trough the borelocated at a central portion of the end extension coupling section ofthe interlocking member and trough the bores located at a centralportion of both planar metallic pieces forming the clasp which comprisethe interlocking member coupling section of the end extension thusjoining the tension member, compression member, brake head subassembly,interlocking member and end extension together.
 8. A method forreplacing a brake beam from a railway car including a boogie havingpocket guides for linking a brake beam, comprising the steps of:providing a spare brake beam having an elongated main body having afirst and a second end, linking a pair of brake head subassemblies andinstalled in a boogie of a railway car having pocket guides for slidablereceiving the end extensions of a brake beam and opposed end extensions,said spare brake beam comprising: at least one interlocking member eachcoupled at an end of the brake beam main body and having an endextension coupling section; and at least one end extension having apocket guide coupling section and an interlocking member couplingsection; wherein the interlocking member coupling section of each endextension is linked to an interlocking member end extension couplingsection. retiring the brake beam to be replaced from the railway car;decoupling an end extension of the spare brake beam sliding the sparebrake beam under the boogie; inserting the decoupled end extension onthe pocket guide inserting the opposite end extension on a pocket guide;and linking the decoupled end extension interlocking member couplingsection with the interlocking member end extension coupling section. 9.A method for replacing a brake beam from a railway car as claimed inclaim 8, wherein each interlocking member comprising: a solid planarmetal piece having a brake beam coupling section and an end extensioncoupling section, opposite to the brake beam coupling section includinga coupling edge having an irregular shape and having a bore in a centralportion thereof, and having a lesser width than the brake beam couplingsection.
 10. A method for replacing a brake beam from a railway car asclaimed in claim 8, wherein each interlocking member coupling sectioncomprising a clasp formed by two quadrangular planar metallic pieces,each including a bore in a central portion thereof, an interlockingmember coupling edge receiving section located between both quadrangularplanar metallic pieces.
 11. A method for replacing a brake beam from arailway car as claimed in claim 8, wherein: each interlocking membercomprising: a solid planar metal piece having a brake beam couplingsection and an end extension coupling section, opposite to the brakebeam coupling section including a coupling edge having an irregularshape and having a bore in a central portion thereof, and having alesser width than the brake beam coupling section; each interlockingmember coupling section comprising a clasp formed by two quadrangularplanar metallic pieces, each including a bore in a central portionthereof, an interlocking member coupling edge receiving section locatedbetween both quadrangular planar metallic pieces having the same butopposed shape as the coupling edge receiving section and a pocket guidecoupling member opposed to the interlocking member coupling member; andwherein each interlocking member is received and retained between thetwo quadrangular planar metallic pieces and wherein its coupling edgeengages with the interlocking member coupling section interlockingmember coupling edge receiving section
 12. A method for replacing abrake beam from a railway car as claimed in claim 8, wherein the brakebeam main body comprising a “V” shaped tension member, a compressionmember having its ends coupled to the ends of the tension member andeach having a first and a second end, a brake head subassembly linked toeach end of the compression member, a fulcrum attached to thecompression member and tension member, wherein the compression andtension member have a channel shaped cross section, and wherein thetension member, compression member and brake head subassemblies, arelinked together by means of four pairs of bolt nut assemblies eachpassing respectively trough the first and second pair of holes locatedat each end of the tension member and compression member and trough thebore of each brake head subassembly, thus linking the tension member,compression member and brake head subassemblies together by a first anda second pair of linking points, and further comprising: an interlockingmember located at the first end of the compression member inside itschannel shaped cross section which in turn is located inside the channelshaped cross section of the tension member, comprising a solid planarmetal piece having a brake beam coupling section having a bore in acentral portion thereof coinciding with the first coinciding pair ofbores of the first two pairs of linking points of the tension andcompression member and an end extension coupling section, opposite tothe brake beam coupling section including a coupling edge having anirregular shape and having a bore in a central portion thereofcoinciding with the second coinciding pair of bores of the second twopairs of linking points of the tension and compression member and withthe bore of the coupling section of a brake head subassembly and havinga lesser width than the brake beam coupling section.
 13. A method forreplacing a brake beam from a railway car as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe brake beam main body comprising a “V” shaped tension member, acompression member having its ends coupled to the ends of the tensionmember and each having a first and a second end, a brake headsubassembly linked to each end of the compression member, a fulcrumattached to the compression member and tension member, wherein thecompression and tension member have a channel shaped cross section, andwherein the tension member, compression member and brake headsubassemblies, are linked together by means of four pairs of bolt nutassemblies each passing respectively trough the first and second pair ofholes located at each end of the tension member and compression memberand trough the bore of each brake head subassembly, thus linking thetension member, compression member and brake head subassemblies togetherby a first and a second pair of linking points, and further comprising:a removable end extension comprising a solid metal piece one of whichhaving an interlocking member coupling member comprising a clasp formedby two quadrangular planar metallic pieces, each including a bore in acentral portion thereof, an interlocking member coupling edge receivingsection located between both quadrangular planar metallic pieces havingthe same but opposed shape as the coupling edge receiving section and apocket guide coupling member opposed to the interlocking member couplingmember.
 14. A method for replacing a brake beam from a railway car asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the brake beam main body comprising a “V”shaped tension member, a compression member having its ends coupled tothe ends of the tension member and each having a first and a second end,a brake head subassembly linked to each end of the compression member, afulcrum attached to the compression member and tension member, whereinthe compression and tension member have a channel shaped cross section,and wherein the tension member, compression member and brake headsubassemblies, are linked together by means of four pairs of bolt nutassemblies each passing respectively trough the first and second pair ofholes located at each end of the tension member and compression memberand trough the bore of each brake head subassembly, thus linking thetension member, compression member and brake head subassemblies togetherby a first and a second pair of linking points, and further comprising:an interlocking member located at the first end of the compressionmember inside its channel shaped cross section which in turn is locatedinside the channel shaped cross section of the tension member,comprising a solid planar metal piece having a brake beam couplingsection having a bore in a central portion thereof coinciding with thefirst coinciding pair of bores of the first two pairs of linking pointsof the tension and compression member and an end extension couplingsection, opposite to the brake beam coupling section including acoupling edge having an irregular shape and having a bore in a centralportion thereof coinciding with the second coinciding pair of bores ofthe second two pairs of linking points of the tension and compressionmember and with the bore of the coupling section of a brake headsubassembly and having a lesser width than the brake beam couplingsection; a removable end extension comprising a solid metal piece one ofwhich having an interlocking member coupling member comprising a claspformed by two quadrangular planar metallic pieces, each including a borein a central portion thereof, an interlocking member coupling edgereceiving section located between both quadrangular planar metallicpieces having the same but opposed shape as the coupling edge receivingsection and a pocket guide coupling member opposed to the interlockingmember coupling member; wherein the brake beam coupling section of theinterlocking member is coupled to the first end of the tension andcompression members by means of the bolt passing trough the first pairof coinciding bores (of the first two pairs of linking points) of thecompression and tension member which also passes trough the bore locatedat a central portion of the brake beam coupling section thus joining thecoupling section; and wherein the end extension coupling section of theinterlocking member is coupled to the tension and compression membersand brake head subassembly and is received between both planar metallicpieces of the end extension having the clasp, in such way that itscoupling edge engages with the interlocking member coupling edgereceiving section and is retained therein by means of the bolt passingtrough the second pair of coinciding bores of the second two pairs oflinking points of the compression member, tension member and brake headsubassembly which also passes trough the bore located at a centralportion of the end extension coupling section of the interlocking memberand trough the bores located at a central portion of both planarmetallic pieces forming the clasp which comprise the interlocking membercoupling section of the end extension thus joining the tension member,compression member, brake head subassembly, interlocking member and endextension together.